Two major events have taken place in the news today.
The first bit of news was that President Obama made his pick of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. This leads to the nomination for the first Hispanic justice to take the bench, providing she receives Senate confirmation. His selection did not start out life with a silver spoon. Nope. In fact, federal appeals judge Sotomayor started out life in a New York housing project and was able to attend an Ivy League school due to a scholarship. I like her already. We’ll see how things turn out through the confirmation hearings. However, I have a feeling that she’ll be hanging out at the Supreme Court this fall.
The second bit of news wasn’t as positive. The California Supreme Court upheld the same-sex marriage ban. However, they did decide that the 18,000 same-sex couples who were married before the vote will stay married. It’s sad to hear the decision. However, referendums, like Prop 8 modify a state’s Constitution. Therefore, the Supreme Court had to recognize what was stated in California’s Constitution. A high court cannot change the Constitution, whether it is a state high court or our nation’s high court. The power that they have is to render a decision based upon their interpretation of what the Constitution says. So, basically, in order to allow gay marriage, the repeal will have to go through the proper channels, like having Californians vote on the issue once again. It did sadden me when the Prop 8 ban did pass, because it showed me that there are people out there who believe that not everyone should be granted equal rights and protections.
I find it horrible that many, out of unfounded fears and through incorrect religious teachings feel that we are not all equal and consider a great portion of this population to be deviant. Gee, haven’t we been through this one before? Did we not learn the lesson a few decades ago that just because the color of our skin might not be the same, does not mean that one race is superior to the other? It’s sad that we are still in a battle in this country to show that no matter whom a person is attracted to, they are equal to everyone else.
Today we have one piece of good news, and a historic nomination. On the other hand, we have an unsurprising, yet sad piece of news that illustrates that we still have a ways to go in this country.
Filed under: political morsel Tagged: | President Obama, same-sex marriage, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court
I like the fact that she is not a ‘richy rich’ but I am not sure like many of her rulings. We will see.
And I understand what you are saying about the state Constitutions, but if you are right (and I am tooooo tired to check it out) then forcing the people to vote again could just continually spend money and nothing could ever be changed.
I fear I am making no sense. I am going to bed EARLY!
I’m not saying that the people voting is the right thing to do. I mean, it would be nice if the state legislature would take care of the issue. However, as long as there are enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot, there is that possibility of the issue going back and forth for quite some time. It would just be easier if people came to their senses and just realized that no one is asking for special treatment out of allowing same-sex marriage. Nobody’s forcing religious institutions to perform wedding ceremonies against their will either. The sole purpose is to give the same rights and recognition to two people in love who just happen to be of the same sex. For those who don’t agree with it, don’t marry someone of the same sex. That’s all there is to it. Again, until people wise up, this issue will continue to go back and forth and taxpayers’ money will continue to be wasted.
A long fucking way to go. That decision made me sick to my stomach. On what grounds are people being denied freedom?
D, I’ve reread my comments from last night and I was obviously not making sense. I should have just stepped away from the keyboard.
The point I was not making very well, is that the purpose of sending it to the higher court is to decide its Constitutionality, based on the US one, not the California one. So, yes, the Supreme Court of CA could have overturned it no matter what the voters said. Banning gay marriage is UNConstitutional. But they chickened out and covered their butts, because that would open up a hornet’s nest for all of the OTHER states who have it on their state Constitutions (like mine).
Eventually it will be over, but it is going to take a lot of time and a lot of money. It will be worth it.
A very disappointing, although expected, outcome. Back when the arguments were made, legal experts thought this would happen from the line of questioning. I am pleased that the 18,000 marriages were upheld. This leads me to believe that the court left a loophole for a future court case that will be made allowing all couples to marry, because it is not fair to give this right to some people.
I have the feeling that until the youth of today are in leadership roles, we won’t see any changes..
The old fossils have to go…
Many of our friend’s marriages will stand, so that’s a good thing, but it was a very strange and inconsistent ruling…wide open for a further look…I wonder if that was on purpose? I think it’s just a matter of time….it takes generations to dilute bigotry, as we have experienced in the past, so you might be right GiGi!!
And the pick of Sotomayor was brilliant! I am not surprised she has opposition, but I think it will be a slam dunk!